Dr. Angelique Aitken
Dr. Angelique Aitken’s research centers on improving reading and writing outcomes for students with disabilities and supporting the teachers who serve them. Her work is grounded in the belief that instruction should be evidence-based, inclusive, and informed by both data and classroom realities.
Her areas of specialization include:
- Writing intervention and explicit instruction
- Writing motivation and engagement
- Special education law and policy
Angelique employs a wide range of research methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. She has expertise in meta-analysis, single-case design, and classroom-based research allowing her to address questions of “what works,” “for whom,” and “under what conditions.” This range of methods supports both statistical rigor and meaningful interpretation, which she uses to bridge research, practice, and policy in accessible ways.
Her current work explores how legal systems shape special education practice, how writing instruction can be integrated across content areas, and how teacher knowledge and motivation affect literacy outcomes for diverse learners.
Current Research Projects Include
- A meta-analysis on word-level reading instruction for adolescent readers with disabilities
- A meta-analysis on the effects of writing instruction and intervention for English learners
- A writing intervention study for middle school students in science (STEM) classrooms
- A qualitative analysis of special education hearing officers’ perspectives on litigation and dispute resolution
Angelique’s experience with diverse research designs helps her support a deeper understanding of educational research across audiences. Whether for policymakers, practitioners, or emerging scholars, she is committed to translating evidence into clear, actionable insights that support equitable outcomes for students with disabilities.
